tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30644143878251928562024-03-18T23:10:13.186-04:00Living FreelyBrandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.comBlogger631125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-72149382896457402752011-02-08T13:45:00.002-05:002011-02-08T13:51:03.048-05:00Some of my faves....I know I said I was disappearing, but I just wanted to share some books that the Lord has been using to change my life and my faith. I'd LOVE to know if you read them! <div><br /></div><div>"Breaking the Rules - trading performance for intimacy with God" by Fil Anderson</div><div><br /></div><div>"Life of the Beloved" by Henri Nouwen</div><div><br /></div><div>"Turn my Mourning into Dancing" by Henri Nouwen</div><div><br /></div><div>"Prodigal God" by Tim Keller</div><div><br /></div><div>and of course lots of time in the word.....I've taken FB and Twitter off my phone so that I can pull up my Bible in all of my downtime. MAN, this has changed the time I spend in the word! I have fallen in love with His word all over again....especially reading the Psalms at the same time as 1 & 2 Samuel so you can read David's life and his heart at the same time. Wow. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm starting "Sacred Romance" and "Evolving in Monkey Town" as well as "What Good is God?" and "1000 gifts"....</div>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-19925899406571835032011-01-01T02:19:00.002-05:002011-01-01T02:22:53.533-05:00Taking a breakI know I said I was going to continue to blog and just go private...but for now, blogging is off. I am taking a break from social media. <div><br /></div><div>Just spending time "in the shelter of His wings".... would love your prayers. Life is beyond words hard and I am in need of so much of Jesus. He is completely faithful and more precious to me than I deserve. So, right now....it's just me and Jesus. I am in need of lots of His truth, instruction and healing and I'm going to spend the next bit curled up in His lap. I hope to come back to blogging, FB and Twitter, but for now it's safest to just sit with my Shield and my Refuge.</div>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-9698432645780867662010-11-03T23:00:00.001-04:002010-11-03T23:01:49.853-04:00Going under cover :-)I'd like to go back to blogging...but am going to be making my blog private.<div><br /></div><div>If you want to keep reading my thoughts...as random or annoying as they may be :-) </div><div><br /></div><div>Email me your address and I'll put you on the list</div><div><br /></div><div> brandi_mcelheny (at) yahoo (dot) com</div>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-68147031626375636482010-07-30T16:27:00.003-04:002010-08-03T18:36:20.603-04:00I think I may love Henri NouwenJust a few quotes....<div><br /></div><div>"I realized that healing begins with our taking our pain out of its diabolic isolation and seeing that whatever we suffere, we suffer it in communion with all of humanity and yes, all of creation...</div><div><br /></div><div>...the way through suffereing is not to deny it, but to live fully in the midst of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our efforts to disconnect ourselves from our own suffering end up disconnecting our suffering from God's suffering for us.</div><div><br /></div><div>Facing our losses also means avoiding a temptation to see life as an exercise in having needs me. We are needy people, of course. We want attention, affection, influence, power. And our needs seem never to be satisfied. Even altruistic actions can get tangled with these needs. Then, wehn people or circumstances do not fulfill all of our needs, we withdraw or lash out. We nurse our wounded spirits. And we become even needier. We crave easy assurances, ignoring anything that would suggest another way.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am less likely to deny my suffering when I learn how God uses it to mold me and draw me closer to Him. I will be less likely to see my pains as interruptions to my plans and more able to see them as the means for God to make me ready to receive Him. I let Christ live near my hurts and distractions.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our choice than often revolves around not what has happened or will happen to us, but how we will relate to life's turns and circumstances...will I relate to my life resentfully or gratefully?</div><div><br /></div><div>For in our suffering, not apart from it, Jesus enters our sadness, takes us by the hand, pulls us gently up to stand and invites us to dance.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is here (prayer) that we find courage to face our human boundaries and hurts, whether our physical appearance, our being excluded by others, our memories of hurt or abuse, our oppression at the hands of another. As we find freedom to cry out in anguish or protest someone's suffering, we discover ourselves slowly led into a new place. We become conditioned to wait for what we in our own strength cannot create or orchestrate. We realize that joy is not a matter of balloons and parties...It has to do with a deep experience - an experience of Christ. In the quiet listening of prayer, we learn to make out the voice that says, "I love you..."</div><div><br /></div><div>The gospel calls us continually to make Christ the source, the center, and the purpose of our lives. In Him, we find our home. In the safety of that place, our sadnesses can point us to God, even drive us into God's loving embrace. Here mourning our losses ultimately lets us claim our belovedness. Mourning opens us to a future we could not imagine on our own - one that includes a dance..."</div><div><br /></div><div>Ok, wow. He's smart, huh? And deep. This is just a FEW of the underlined passages and I'm only on page 38! More to come...</div>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-67330730395992686112010-07-27T17:32:00.003-04:002010-07-27T17:41:06.391-04:00Sweet LaylaMy sweet friend, <a href="http://signuponmyheart.wordpress.com">Layla</a>, posted this on our "I am a WarriorGirl" yahoogroup. I just had to share<div>:-) </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 24px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Dear Warrior Girls,</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Thanks a lot. Thanks for taking my cozy, easy, half-convicted life, and turning it upside down. Thank you for allowing God to work through your lives in a way that has switched me from reading decorating blogs (and dreaming of billowy curtains, and glorious white dishes), and choking me with grim reality blogs. I really appreciate the way you took my shopping trips (*SIGH*) and made them seem so darn petty. Today I came home with a little pink bag of my favorite undies, and now all I can think of is how many bellies that price tag would have filled. Yeah, thanks for that. I would also like to thank you for introducing me to your children. Children that could have remained a mystery…unknown… Now my heart has been touched in places that I didn’t know existed. I sob over photos of these little ones, and the ones that peep through bars…waiting for their forever family. Yeah, thanks for that heartache. Now I cannot throw anything out without wondering how I EVER became so wasteful. I look at my stuff and wonder what my problem is. REALLY? Do I REALLY need another one of those? Great. Now I have more conviction…thanks. This is what I get for having a band of friends that care more than I knew was even possible. This is what I get for knowing a God that is SO BIG and AMAZING, that I have been smacked-down, face flat on the concrete. I have tripped on my own indifference. And you know what? I TRULY AM THANKFUL! I love you all so much. I wonder why God allows me to be in this group? I am SO stinking far behind where I should be! I don’t pray enough, care enough, give enough, try hard enough. I am so selfish that is nauseates me. Why on earth would God show me such mercy? There is so much mercy in pain and correction. My Father is so good. Yes, this letter started sarcastic and silly, but here is the cold hard truth: I want to know more. I want to hurt more, feel more, give more, break more. I need all of you to hold me accountable. I am not even close to making the cut. Thank you, Jesus, for your mercy and grace! I am nothing without the blood of Jesus covering my every sin. I needed (NEED) the reality and support that He has brought through all of you. I am forever grateful…even though I really liked billowy curtains and PINK undies. <img src="http://s.wordpress.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="wp-smiley" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; max-width: 640px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Your Warrior Sister,<br /><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(136, 136, 136); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Layla</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">***don't you just love her already? </span></p></span></div>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-38193576310991622352010-07-25T00:10:00.004-04:002010-07-25T00:15:46.889-04:00Dress for a Cause!I read this tonight and for me - it's a no brainer!! Wow! What a great idea. In fact, so great I totally want to use it. If you guys LOVE this giftbasket idea, let me know. We have some crazy cool shirts around HopeChest, plus necklaces and coffee and such plus we are making some crazy cool shirts for the WarriorGirls (may have an entire line...just sayin') and we could do something like this to fund, i don't know, rescues?! :-) <br /><br />But for now...read what my sweet friend <a href="http://embracingtheleastofthese.blogspot.com/2010/07/dress-for-cause-sequeland-korah.html">Kim </a>has written and about this amazing way to not only help Korah but enter to win an amazing prize pack of 13 shirts plus a hat and tote! wow!! *PS this is possibly the longest post ever - but worth it to see all these cute shirts)<br /><br /><div>For those of you that don't know, much like myself a few months ago, "Korah" in Amharic means "cursed". Around 75 years ago, the Ethiopian government moved everyone with leporsy to this area of Addis Ababa . There are now approximately 100,000 people that live in the slums of Korah and are considered the "outcasts" The other thing that is located in Korah is the city dump. I have had friends say they could see parts of the dump moving and then realized it was people moving. People searching for food to eat and scrap metal to sell.<br /><br /></div><div>There is something else, or rather, Someone else, moving in Korah.</div><br /><br /><div>God. </div><br /><br /><div>He is stirring in the hearts of His people and people like pastor Sammy Liben and <a href="http://project61blog.wordpress.com/"><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;">Project 61</span></strong></a>. There is now an education sponsorship program for the children of Korah. If you have not read this post this last week, I really encourage you to take the time to read it...it is a long post and yet leaves me speechless. Also, visit the <a href="http://littlehoffman.blogspot.com/2010/07/this-is-korah.html"><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Hoffman's blog</span></strong> </a>as Laura just returned from there as well with <a href="http://www.visitingorphans.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=33967"><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Visiting Orphans</span></strong></a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://talkissheep.blogspot.com/2010/07/korah-day-i-have-given-up-on-numbering.html"><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;">Jody at Talk is Sheep has just visited, loved, served and is changed by Korah.</span></strong> </a><br /><br /></div><div>So...while we have a bit of time to fundraise, the kids at Korah do not. They have a child sponsorship program that has a deadline of July 31. Yep...one week left. And it is $700 to sponsor a child in Korah for an entire year. They get to go to boarding school, have meals and and education. You can read what all that entails in Jody's post. Pretty amazing stuff. Made me realize my pitiful little TV was just fine-and-dandy-thank-you-very-much. (okay..I already realized that but just thought I would throw that in there...) </div><br /><br /><div>When we shared as a fundraising family a few months ago at a Show Hope event, we said we never want to be the endpoint of a gift...any gift. We believed it when we said it and we believe it even more today. We want to share the benefits of this fundrasier with Korah in whatever way God chooses. </div><br /><br /><div>SO.....<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size: 130%;">How does this "Dress for a Cause" the Sequel work?</span><br />Easy.<br /><br /></div><br /><div>All you have to do to have your name on a piece of paper in our bowl of wonders is purchase a piece of this picture of Korah Kids. Your piece, or pieces, will build upon other's pieces and together we will all have a part in God's work in Korah. As pieces are purchased, I will uncover more and more of the picture. Pretty neat, huh!</div><br /><br /><p><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 376px; display: block; height: 237px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497595325196914146" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqZAYoSCscNzEp3rY7TJXSURc54ZNViGBJckj-Rp_BgfJIZvtz6TOIcsx99EW6c5OALCrUG5vf9h60jlyFnk9is_IHR_hRdzkxXinY3HAIuwIHaJuLwhM_4osvshUPWtfhF284VxV_fXN/s320/korahcheckerboard1final.jpg" border="0" /></span></strong></p>A picture tile of Korah costs 10.00. <div>2 pictures tiles of Korah cost 15.00.</div><div><br /><br /></div><div>You can enter by reposting the Dress for a Cause, the seqel on your blog , tweeting about it and of course, posting it on your facebook. </div><div><br /></div><div>That is 5 ways to end up in our bowl of wonders and have your closet filled with adoption themed shirts. Can I participate? No. Can my daughter? No...much to her dismay. (She was counting her pennies.)<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center">So, let's take a look at who is generously participating in the Sequel...</div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.showhope.org/"><strong><span style="font-size: 130%; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">Show Hope</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-size: 130%; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">.</span></strong> SH had actually wanted to participate in the first Dress for a Cause but I received their communication as it was ending, so I told them I would take a rain check. SH goes above and beyond in partnering with families with resources and adoption grants. That is just a small part of what they do. Show Hope would like to partner with your in your fundraising efforts with their merchandise affiliate program. Contact Lindsey at SH. She is your go-to girl. Oh...and how generous is this. They are giving a shirt, hat AND tote bag (I am so jealous...)</div><div><br /><br /></div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px; display: block; height: 320px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497606167700455426" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKg_HxMZ968OaWXGprM_Hj6MYW7FaUgOxI46sUSXr2ut_GNxTeezXKdGs9kybf5ZgaQgajbMREFithgjybthLLoGnOPexXjJI5qdjOcvbvPsK2jHLPNFu-ZSKbPRebdIn-3klMKj9oiYM7/s320/showhopeshirt.jpg" border="0" /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px; display: block; height: 320px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497606448736339586" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0GEiVWa6cfJ9Upl_fn8_7JbBhBhbsXpSw6kqjSfdNJLhS9ZPHGmzjZBNQ-KRp0wmqQ_Ic0abvS-K_80ukAbMwQJnJBPZG77MBwKKH1oz6L7N4qX8HUZREE9dW0-7wTeeCnKPS9cuNPMF/s320/showhopetote.jpg" border="0" /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 202px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497606295362699378" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpKk3bdiHrPX6lZps1BlDsbfLAARgo-HZB5yt4jVAEnmfCSdigzGVXA-WuTblg24Uex3nkDIod1YWVsjxbjdm_gWPaAux1R39UI3QOfc-VfRQifloPRxLexNVqc7qDH1MKSsBkwMCgEwn/s320/showhopehat2.jpg" border="0" /> <a href="http://heart2homeadoption.blogspot.com/"><strong><span style="font-size: 130%; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Heart to Home</span></strong></a>. The Dixon's are a fundraising family that has generously donated an Adopt. Pray. Support. shirt. They are a family of 10 currently on the wait for siblings from Ethiopia. Tricia is always full of support and encouragement so you will want to visit their site and bookmark this family. Take a look around their site for other items they are selling to bring their little one's home.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 249px; display: block; height: 320px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497609651417160946" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntZEgGUeUXNNcAKkOeoqWBsuQh8hmuHXVVRFOdxerYE4ZmCCRYpW3_uyou27oZwvKEsm4Vv4ZqggsoCr82TkeVUKP2BT4TfH-IT-hrABZc3rII6eNg2bVo4aS_0Gs0ZPkywOck5Lwv8sI/s320/tricia+shirt+front.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFK4PwKJFuBb5ilB0qH02WpbjSbMkpoQ0y-aw9BUvKPjMY5itnrYRMr00ZxHQQSt4UjI_DFRE7XsZv1uy_1xXlbFhZ_0gK9httTuhwnKeyYxZTjYoYlUFD5NNiksHTNWsiZ0rtDSHZPUHH/s1600/tricia+shirt+back.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 249px; display: block; height: 320px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497609979240526402" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFK4PwKJFuBb5ilB0qH02WpbjSbMkpoQ0y-aw9BUvKPjMY5itnrYRMr00ZxHQQSt4UjI_DFRE7XsZv1uy_1xXlbFhZ_0gK9httTuhwnKeyYxZTjYoYlUFD5NNiksHTNWsiZ0rtDSHZPUHH/s320/tricia+shirt+back.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /><a href="http://www.marquezfamilyjourney.blogspot.com/"><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;">Holding God's Hand in the Journey</span></strong></a>. Okay...I'm gonna be quiet and let you read the anonymous quote on Debbie and Jeff's shirts and water bottle.</div>"We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life, but those who make their journey home across time and miles, growing within the hearts of those who love them, are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us by God's very own hands."<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zTo4sem-I4osb2TXDGcHKEy4rOkcly5KZVg2PsddZNAV9RGPDdndiaWtOOvCBhHWxdnGPJYCH8VYmkBgAKjeDJIhDsqNwT8BwgljTcrNdsgaVYbo-tLjAtkewjdIbqz7eQZfw0H1RhOC/s1600/marquez+picture.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 285px; display: block; height: 320px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497611889629626994" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zTo4sem-I4osb2TXDGcHKEy4rOkcly5KZVg2PsddZNAV9RGPDdndiaWtOOvCBhHWxdnGPJYCH8VYmkBgAKjeDJIhDsqNwT8BwgljTcrNdsgaVYbo-tLjAtkewjdIbqz7eQZfw0H1RhOC/s320/marquez+picture.jpg" border="0" /></a>Oh, guys....this one is SPECIAL!! They are taking shirt orders right now and if I were you I would not wait to see if I won this ginormous prize, I would go ahead and bless this family with a shirt order...or two...and a water bottle...like the one I just ordered (Merry Christmas, Isabelle...<em>shhhhhh</em>)<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYebMyXgWDSRXcuxDSkIHQBSqGEy8UEcgBL4Ko1xy7FjsL3p4Ej1JbCoRyLhojJU0gMP5nJwoC92F678csCwkcYueO6qqHePqai0EI9kC9ChHpHN7Ocal2jSmL9C5DWbICB-Exqel8vuW/s1600/marquez+shirt+front.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 203px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497611702194329074" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYebMyXgWDSRXcuxDSkIHQBSqGEy8UEcgBL4Ko1xy7FjsL3p4Ej1JbCoRyLhojJU0gMP5nJwoC92F678csCwkcYueO6qqHePqai0EI9kC9ChHpHN7Ocal2jSmL9C5DWbICB-Exqel8vuW/s320/marquez+shirt+front.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://walseradoptionadventures.blogspot.com/"><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;">The Walser Adoption Adventures</span></strong> </a>. Let me tell you about this family. They are on the other side of Florida from me. I get the sunrises and they get the sunsets. Rachel is a busy homeschool mom with a side business and a pastors wife. She is always full of encouragement and has had quite a year getting to the waitlist...but guess what just happened, they made it! She is out of town at a convention and she only had a few minutes to update her blog but I thought she put it perfectly. Here is what she said: "For a year it's been a paper chase. I have known a child waits at the end of it but most days I have been lost in a cloud of notaries and background checks and references and authentications. Paper. But today, I feel the tangible love and longing for my child. I hear a heartbeat, I feel a kick. I feel a life growing and I sense our meeting is just around the corner" That is just a glimpse into the heart of the Mama of this family. Their shirts say, Love with Abandon..Love an Orphan. </div><div>Oh...they already do. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaa_3yFgFc0ZZA9B3zydDwSGD7skgfFxFVyMlK99bad9QSv9UIX4q6GUX8tmCXyl55NCBerXjBFEo_zV9Gc4gJJPPh-qKqfVcFbb4sq9bi2oNBKDeZRSlpeSr3jV9cznB6VkaQF4-047x9/s1600/walsershirt"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497611450424071490" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaa_3yFgFc0ZZA9B3zydDwSGD7skgfFxFVyMlK99bad9QSv9UIX4q6GUX8tmCXyl55NCBerXjBFEo_zV9Gc4gJJPPh-qKqfVcFbb4sq9bi2oNBKDeZRSlpeSr3jV9cznB6VkaQF4-047x9/s320/walsershirt" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.ordinaryheroblog.blogspot.com/"><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;">Ordinary Hero.</span></strong></a> Change the World for One. That says it all. Here we have the lovely Kristi Johnson aka Mama to many but especially one very cute Lucy Lane. Her sister, Kelly, has Ordinary Hero and if you have not been following along with their recent trip (very recent, like I think their flight is due in while I type this...) to Africa, then head over and see what they have been up to. The work they did recently with the flooding in Nashville was inspiring and reminded me there are opportunities everywhere and everywhere to change the world for one. </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6CIqxeY5o4wrxZNGroKPDEOB6axYI-4ece6y1wG9j76VPtOezg5VXrA65jCj3PM8mWyZQiNPFp7jUl3wA3RD3u0bFmOy7g2972mJl82gU2fcjb3QIc08vSBMa8DTiYKE-BOHb6Q26fjn/s1600/OH_Shirt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 220px; display: block; height: 165px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497611124880554978" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6CIqxeY5o4wrxZNGroKPDEOB6axYI-4ece6y1wG9j76VPtOezg5VXrA65jCj3PM8mWyZQiNPFp7jUl3wA3RD3u0bFmOy7g2972mJl82gU2fcjb3QIc08vSBMa8DTiYKE-BOHb6Q26fjn/s320/OH_Shirt.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://147millionorphans.com/pick-me/"><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;">147 Million Orphans</span></strong></a>. Gwen and Suzanne need no introduction but I will brag on them still the same. These ladies and 147 Million are a pivitol part of the adoption fundraising community and orphan care awareness. The impact and influence their hearts and efforts will have with Amazima Ministries will not be known this side of heaven but I can pretty much say with certainty they will hear the words "Well Done." I had the privilege of hanging out at the pool with them a few weeks ago in Orlando. When they asked if we would adopt after "Hope" I replied I am getting "old" . "Better an old mama than NO mama" Gwen chimed in. These ladies know the realities of the orphan crisis. Aging parents and lack of funds are no excuse. </div>They are donating a 147 Million shirt (may not be the one pictured below, depending on availablity because these ladies sell A LOT !) and one of the wonderful magazine bead necklaces made by the women in Uganda.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02XGoXVFge_0Ct3uw2JzRfQQuwUA4MnNj2ZGO-d7u9Aelx305be65jntXO_YvFZNUt4jv3sQpj-cGQgtvUW2BpuLRqXNfhwdQvwnfvueR0oZJbGTibSfP0u_DSx2jUnS86n53b4W8NT54/s1600/147necklace2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px; display: block; height: 225px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497610946476014738" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02XGoXVFge_0Ct3uw2JzRfQQuwUA4MnNj2ZGO-d7u9Aelx305be65jntXO_YvFZNUt4jv3sQpj-cGQgtvUW2BpuLRqXNfhwdQvwnfvueR0oZJbGTibSfP0u_DSx2jUnS86n53b4W8NT54/s320/147necklace2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsoqpVfkU9YX796hTqqW_dia8lKKOkw6IvNICJAuDrSJ0FWOyoroUruey1eA3JUmtik8UVcI8j-I9vhxj7dsB-vtJvlzYut4pj592QmSrhwaIT-roVDfTpRMkOX9ua38HKJd8XQkbWxg5I/s1600/147millionshirt+front.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 225px; display: block; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497610800005301170" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsoqpVfkU9YX796hTqqW_dia8lKKOkw6IvNICJAuDrSJ0FWOyoroUruey1eA3JUmtik8UVcI8j-I9vhxj7dsB-vtJvlzYut4pj592QmSrhwaIT-roVDfTpRMkOX9ua38HKJd8XQkbWxg5I/s320/147millionshirt+front.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><strong><a href="http://http//becauseweareled.blogspot.com/p/about-our-son.html"><span style="font-size: 130%; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">Because we are led</span></a></strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">.</span> This sweet family had adopted from China and and doing it again. This time they are adopting an 11 year old boy with mild cerebral palsy. You can read his story on their blog but in a nutshell his birth mother took him to the hospital when he was 6 years old and abandoned him there. They are a fundraising family as well and I would invite you to check out their blog. They have some sweet dresses up for auction to go towards their adoption expenses and they are selling tote bags as well.<br /><br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 295px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497610288755856882" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dnV9PyoG6E1ijUhJlxcBtqBFatiOzj_iQbGGcyuhXaxbOvzNQRcJ2hjN0EOWkbpHCRlEvPnhEL1ObJCK-0WmeZOQk6azv5StGDz7zEjcULqVrgCCWK5JJtf6uC_RRd4qs6xsMWEKJTdt/s320/because_we_are_ledbf.jpg" border="0" /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 186px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497610467749277298" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsP0ceiod0i1CdPO6Qavszed118Wc6som_6xx5QBMZ-cXfeArnIRAl7aWkhtL42-k4JX3TJ5O7gKnHYW86Uhk0HA32Dyyx2DCDT_zyBeg3svj-35b4fsFr3vACLLcmMy3CAwNSMAnJrYY/s320/BecauseWeAreLedBB.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: 130%; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Feeding the Orphans</span></strong>. Meet Sydney. She is 10 years old. Don't let her age fool you. She has a heart and spiritual maturity well beyond those 10 years. She becamed burdened at the thought of how we could live like queens and kings when there are others, especially in Africa, who have nothing. So, little miss Sydney started a blog, designed a t-shirt, and advocates for the orphan. Two of which will be orphaned no more. Her family is growing by way of Ghana! She is raising money for a well in her siblings village that was affected by a fire. When I asked Sydney to participate in this I told her I did not want her to donate a shirt, I wanted to purchase one to put in the giveaway. She said she wanted to donate it. Can you say "servant's heart"? (Oh...and Syd...I'm older than you and I say I am buying one..)<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfp72aOCOFefpgbDiPf17VA4ixxKH0EFeWBntrqwiAyoKbZBc1C34uMym5qc_u6Xx0aKTAel7vN756cu7iZ6rbztMTnYh-RAuCsKFbMFY4mSUQ1RFaZ_E2EmL12KumQeFNF40EujC83Uol/s1600/sydney+front.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 146px; display: block; height: 220px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497633532364431122" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfp72aOCOFefpgbDiPf17VA4ixxKH0EFeWBntrqwiAyoKbZBc1C34uMym5qc_u6Xx0aKTAel7vN756cu7iZ6rbztMTnYh-RAuCsKFbMFY4mSUQ1RFaZ_E2EmL12KumQeFNF40EujC83Uol/s320/sydney+front.jpg" border="0" /></a> <img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 204px; display: block; height: 220px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497633752194647618" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FkrClKx-47fTnbajEB70ityyTHYHDjpkwuKjrLfl_RgqFKlgrmW9NYqr7Ib7QsdiGFCsjjugsI5TSceJiOQctj_E9x1T3mBy_bzrG-vFRjaN5vJ6hb4Qd8tmEszblY5p3dT0fpq5Suyr/s320/sydney+back.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><br /><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"></span><a href="http://feedingtheorphans.blogspot.com/"><strong><span style="font-size: 130%; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">The Road Less Travelled</span></strong></a> . The Shubin Clan is another one of my Florida families. They have been so encouraging to me and we have had the opportunity to meet half way in Orlando a couple times to visit. They are currently getting their Dossier submitted and will soon be on the wait for their little girl...who will join their little Silas and their home grown kiddos. Erica has a fabulous blog that she updates regularly and is in a "humble attack mode" when it comes to fundraising. She knows how to get it done and if you need pointers don't hesitate to ask her. She is full of ideas. She has recently posted about the life journey they were going through as a family when they were adopting Silas. Pretty real stuff. Head over to their blog and become a follower if you are not already. They have some amazing new shirts and I love their design. One of my favorites is the Where you Live shirt. Check it out. And...in the spirit of guy talk and "manning up" their Pie hole shirt gets to the point. (The color of the prize shirt may not be the color Erica is wearing below)<br /><br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 229px; display: block; height: 320px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497632434550831618" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwdMdGO_22d7t7SU4v2hF1jtudOXoePMC26PwY93eiVYsQ7n2bWHfR83EWwes7lORqgWMU2OdMylJ54AJvgglB-2JbFDkYWAnRvm86tq6Phk87q5eYF7bH7btr1nkV2W1JKbg2xVVk4zE/s320/shubinshirtfront.jpg" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAt8IYL2w4bfDy3aL1RRC26VkvbZr_RMEhi9hNVB3ZmWRZRo418HHCZ1Wz2FUgpQ1Krt59Pru_ftXLk8utagFoaWsbdmv8dD2OqBA7rD60QxcKNC8gztcoJtooDwstukKXFOsQlxhB-vdr/s1600/shubinshirtback.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 244px; display: block; height: 320px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497632596178487378" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAt8IYL2w4bfDy3aL1RRC26VkvbZr_RMEhi9hNVB3ZmWRZRo418HHCZ1Wz2FUgpQ1Krt59Pru_ftXLk8utagFoaWsbdmv8dD2OqBA7rD60QxcKNC8gztcoJtooDwstukKXFOsQlxhB-vdr/s320/shubinshirtback.jpg" border="0" /></a> <img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px; display: block; height: 320px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497632869136641202" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhcmONolzNZuf3q5vtgrWi5wEwekYUgbSj3hZUa6QluqIN7wMmG0NyyDZHFFKJabebuMspnpgWuRVogNQtV4n-kZxLGY3oSoC1EX-s7RmOTxDaHgoMi708qu3JltlG5jQIIjkAq2NTwAS/s320/skylar.jpg" border="0" /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 214px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497633137526701138" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORgLE-214wyffrkJQFPjNG8X7FUg385afNBbtZUyL4uth2xdDoisbn_HI25Cu0sV8BhnTD7ZtlpUzOQRtWwxs_tFa80e0c3ImPIMCCNqic53o-d6SGZHesFC3X-Wfi3GaeTq_I9k0bpJs/s320/shubinpieholeback.jpg" border="0" /><br />And then there is us. No link...you are already here. The first shirt is what we call the "Lilah" shirt. Well...because the first one I made and sold was for Lilah. And she is beautiful and she is the same age as our little "Hope" will most likely be and if I lived close I would totally need a sweet hug from Lilah...but instead, we have named a shirt after her and have sold many. If you would like an adult Lilah shirt of a different color we can accomodate that!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNP3BXEgN7Mvc9DQqs5QdrMEJyUj2ANMumpZgHTADO4k6ChJOY5e7c28a4YqjUhMck9VG4EIjx8lvK1bnhfmuKS7riObHsP1fMPIdHOIn88hWLCOBVgrOs8SCuGnmLfu6tEeK8sID2BiD/s1600/lilahshirt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 241px; display: block; height: 320px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497632150461031442" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNP3BXEgN7Mvc9DQqs5QdrMEJyUj2ANMumpZgHTADO4k6ChJOY5e7c28a4YqjUhMck9VG4EIjx8lvK1bnhfmuKS7riObHsP1fMPIdHOIn88hWLCOBVgrOs8SCuGnmLfu6tEeK8sID2BiD/s320/lilahshirt.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />And then we have the one that started it all for us. We designed this shirt a year ago. I can't believe it has been that long and I am humbled that I still get orders for them a year later. We have loved them and have loved seeing others wearing them on their return trips from Africa with their babies. That is fun.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-GUS2RvluVmbB4L0UFKkZIt4ahzTqmp2gNeMl3y68s8aJKWK65FIchlGIpYZg2sy8O8szRh3mLaSaPHzMzo5i-O7Q6KsQF2aFGecRkvKlAeT1Lj8bUCIIhc9N2KCdMGLNY0OXhfeb6jU/s1600/East+Snow+191.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 214px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497631939315715778" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-GUS2RvluVmbB4L0UFKkZIt4ahzTqmp2gNeMl3y68s8aJKWK65FIchlGIpYZg2sy8O8szRh3mLaSaPHzMzo5i-O7Q6KsQF2aFGecRkvKlAeT1Lj8bUCIIhc9N2KCdMGLNY0OXhfeb6jU/s320/East+Snow+191.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Finally, (whew...I'm tired..and old Gwen.;) is our Love is Not a Color shirt. The video<br />was great fun to make and I have once again been humbled by the number of orders that continue to come in for this shirt. You never know when you do a design but you know it was placed on your heart and you just go with it.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYPNcLaEgXrJrqAYwB6vQxyGf_wbqmv4tLNDuzyMmsU8Br0TtcQbFW-OuevTptXk3OoxA4pYd9t2m8L7sjisW2nvVh_zN1xSBqkcKg5ToMy3rAWTvuZ3d2mGdIyQmeRgBxs9RfzF3Eh5-/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px; display: block; height: 320px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497631782912237698" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYPNcLaEgXrJrqAYwB6vQxyGf_wbqmv4tLNDuzyMmsU8Br0TtcQbFW-OuevTptXk3OoxA4pYd9t2m8L7sjisW2nvVh_zN1xSBqkcKg5ToMy3rAWTvuZ3d2mGdIyQmeRgBxs9RfzF3Eh5-/s320/003.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/p9Fax54saIE&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/p9Fax54saIE&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br />We will run this through the week and dig into our name-filled bowl on Friday. I will update our picture of Korah throughout the week as your pictures are purchased. Please comment on this blog or facebook me or skywrite above my house and let me know how reposted. You can purchase your Korah picture with the button on the sidebar. Please feel free ask questions<br /><br /><a href="http://embracingtheleastofthese.blogspot.com/2010/07/dress-for-cause-sequeland-korah.html">Go to KIM'S BLOG to donate!!! Yes, GO NOW!</a>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-2614992235071062962010-07-22T17:06:00.002-04:002010-07-22T17:32:25.193-04:00Treasure HuntingSo often when I put out fund raising requests I get overwhelmed....what if no one gives? What if they are tired of me talking about it? What if I've asked, one too many times? This was the case this week. I mean, come on, $8,000 is a lot of money. a LOT of money. Truth is, I was worried. But I kept reminding myself and others that "God scattered abroad His gifts to the Poor" (Psalm 112:9)<br /><br />I'm not fundraising. I'm not begging and pleading and scraping money together. I'm just looking. Treasure Hunting if you will... for where HE has placed HIS gifts to these girls. And then, giving these people the privilege and opportunity to give. You know - I've never regretted giving. I certainly don't miss the bday presents or anniversary presents I gave up this year. I know my Brayden doesn't miss the gifts he gave up on his birthday so that kids in Africa could eat. I have, however, regretted NOT giving. I saw a need, meant to give, but just got busy. I missed out on an opportunity to be a part of a miracle. I truly believe this is the greatest gift He gives us. The opportunity to be a part of HIS love letter to those He finds precious.<br /><br />Well guess what? I got a call this afternoon from a precious friend. She's a blog friend who I've never actually met in person but have spent hours with on the phone. She actually left me a message that went something like this: "I just read your blog and my husband and I would like to give. Call me back and let me know if paypal or a check would work best. Looks like you need $7300 - so we'd like to give that amount." I dropped the phone and jumped around screaming. You should see me do my happy dance...It's quite lovely. (ok, maybe not). I called her back and told her our need right now is actually only $6500 and she said she'd send the check right now. And you know what? She was THRILLED. We were both practically in tears on the phone, so very thankful that the Lord allows us to be a part of this. She was SO excited to give and be a part of the rescue of these girls.<br /><br />I hung up the phone and did a LOT more dancing and jumping and screaming. HE DID IT!!! AGAIN!!! Blew me away one more time. Not only do we have the funds needed to pull off a rescue, but we have the funds to provide a Christian counselor for these girls for a whole YEAR!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">AND, the money is still coming in. People across the country have said - "we want to give. These girls are worth more than our comfort, our stuff." Girls in Kansas are having a huge garage sale. (Details on <a href="http://tomdavis.typepad.com">Tom's blog</a>) Lindsey is selling her coach purse (go<a href="http://africaboundandrews.blogspot.com/"> HERE</a> to win a chance!). I'd LOVE to sell anything you want of mine...leave me a comment :-) We are over $500 PAST our goal and will be funding the NEXT rescue! KEEP giving!!! Our goal is to <span style="font-weight: bold;">match</span> our sweet friends' $6500 and have 2 rescues funded by Monday night! Will you join us? Will you give up some of your comfort so a little girl can be rescued? Will you give up lunch out on Sunday afternoon? Will you sell something? Offer to trade babysitting with a friend and send the money instead? I PROMISE you won't regret it. I can not fully explain the joy it is to be a part of HIS rescue of the oppressed.<br /></div><form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"><input name="cmd" value="_s-xclick" type="hidden"><input name="hosted_button_id" value="JZRSE5RR2GS94" type="hidden"><input src="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9206218/IRO.png" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!" border="0" type="image"><img alt="" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" border="0" height="1" width="1" /></form></div>Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/redletters/#ixzz0uRtfeG7nBrandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-67839497229238610442010-07-21T17:26:00.002-04:002010-07-21T18:15:43.549-04:00Parading Around....If you read <a href="http://www.brandilea.com/2010/07/lets-loose-chains-of-injustice.html">the story below</a> - you might be steaming.<div><br /></div><div>I am.</div><div><br /></div><div>A woman who is the head of a women's organization - a woman who should be defending women's rights.... and yet, what does she do? She runs a brothel. Not only a <i>regular</i> brothel....right? because that wouldn't be bad enough. No, she runs a brothel that SPECIALIZES in selling virgins to VIPs, politicians and police officers. Oh wait, it doesn't stop there....not only does she hold what appears to be 4-5 minor girls as sex slaves in her brothel. She ALSO has a lovely photo book of the girls available for purchase from the local boarding school. If a client wants one of those girls she can simply go to the boarding school, pick them up for their "appointment" and then bring them back to school.</div><div><br /></div><div>What a hypocrite. Does this just make you steaming mad? It makes me want to SHUT HER DOWN. Oh the EVIL. </div><div><br /></div><div>And just as I rage over the injustice of it all. The situation itself and the hypocrisy of parading around as a good upstanding citizen.... and then I remember.</div><div><br /></div><div>Isaiah 58 again...<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For day after day they seek me out; </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> they seem eager to know my ways,<br /> as if they were a nation that does what is right<br /> and has not forsaken the commands of its God."</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wonder if we, the church, are any better than this brothel owner??? Parading around as a people who care about justice and turning to look the other way when a situation like this comes out. It's been a full day - we have $700. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's one thing to talk about it. To look like a person who cares about justice. It's a whole other thing to "loose the chains" of injustice with my actions, with my sacrificial giving. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What will you choose?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"><input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_s-xclick"><input type="hidden" name="hosted_button_id" value="JZRSE5RR2GS94"><input type="image" border="0" src="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9206218/IRO.png" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!"><img width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" /></form>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-73338441034266325582010-07-21T12:33:00.001-04:002010-07-21T13:10:48.572-04:00Let's Loose the Chains of Injustice<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><h1 class="page-title" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font: normal normal normal 31px/34px georgia, serif; ">How to make a profit selling virgins for sex</h1><div class="storycontent" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; float: right; "><form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post" contenteditable="false" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><input src="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9206218/IRO.png" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!" border="0" type="image" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><img alt="" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" border="0" height="1" width="1" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; " /></form></div>It's apparently very simple. <br /><br />First, you establish yourself as a respected community leader who heads up a women's rights group in India. This will solidify your reputation as someone who protects and defends young girls.<br /><br />Next, you need to really specialize in something to keep the customers coming back for more. You need, as the marketers call it, a <b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; ">"unique value proposition."</b> You decide to focus on virgin girls. Highly prized and more expensive than girls with experience.<br /><br />For clientele, you cater to <b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; ">corrupt police officials, local authorities, and the occasional visiting VIP or dignitary.</b> That way, you'll always remain safe from raids and prosecutions. <br /><br />Last, and most importantly, <b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; ">you need a good supply of virgins</b>. For that you have an arrangement with the local boarding school for girls. Potential customers browse through your photo book of potential child sex victims. Once they make their choice, <u style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; ">you bring the girls to your brothel to be raped for profit. </u><u style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><br /></u><br /><b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Sadly, this true story is unfolding right now in India. </b><br /><br />A well-respected women's leader and her husband run a trafficking and prostitution ring specializing in virgins and young girls. The description above is true in its details, documented by our partners in India.<br /><br /><b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; ">A rescue operation is in the works, and I am raising funds through this blog to free as many girls as we can. Will you help us?</b><br /><br />They have documented at least five minors--all girls--being held as slaves. The rescue plan involves using the local television station to expose the operation, and thereby force the police to conduct the raid.<br /><br /><b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Will you join me in supporting this rescue operation?</b> Here are the details:<br /><br /><b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Rescue Operation: $1,250</b> - ($125 per girl we plan to rescue)<br />If we successfully rescue 10 girls, that's just $125 per child saved. This involves setting up the rescue operation, getting the investigative team in place, coordinating with the media and police, and conducting the raid itself. <u style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Even if $1,250 rescued only one girl, it would be far worth the investment.</u><br /><br /><b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Rescue Kits for Each Girl: $450</b> - ($45 per girl up to 10 girls)<br />These kits are the first step in restoring a girl's dignity. They contain clothing and personal hygiene supplies. The girls are taken immediately to a government after-care facility, and these kits provide each girl with needed supplies for the long journey ahead.<br /><br /><b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Professional Social Worker: $6,000</b> - Salary for 12 months<br />Once in the government after-care home, our partners will send a Christian social worker to meet with each of the girls and begin to counsel them toward long-term recovery. Until the girls are allowed to leave that facility, our partners will provide consistent biblical counseling from a licensed and educated social worker. Providing this victims' advocate is critical because in many cases girls are returned to the parents or relatives who sold them to the brothel in the first place.<br /><b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><br />Our goal is to rescue up to ten girls. Although in a similar attempt a few weeks ago, only one girl was freed from her captors. </b>I will keep you posted, and encourage you to continue to pray, to spread the word, and to give as you are able. <br /><br />Here are two ways you can be involved:<br /><br /><b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Join our Prayer Conference Call Today<br /></b>Our prayer team, iFast58, will pray for this operation on their weekly sex trafficking prayer call. Please join them today (July 21) at 1:30pm Eastern Time. Call 760-569-9000 ID: 968101. If you can't make the call, please commit to pray for this rescue.<br /><br /><b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Make a Gift to the India Rescue Operation<br /></b>Click the <b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=JZRSE5RR2GS94" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(2, 61, 137); ">donate button</a></b> at the top of this post to make a gift toward this rescue operation. A gift of any size will make a difference. Give even $5 to stop this horror. A $45 gift buys one girl a rescue kit. A $125 donation helps rescue one girl (if we are successful in freeing 10 children). A $500 gift pays for after-care social work for the girls. <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=JZRSE5RR2GS94" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(2, 61, 137); "><b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Make a gift today</b></a>. All donations are processed by PayPal and received by <a href="http://hopechest.org/" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(2, 61, 137); ">Children's HopeChest</a>, a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit corporation. We are members of the <a href="http://ecfa.org/" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(2, 61, 137); ">Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability </a>also. For more information about our ministry, please visit <a href="http://hopechest.org/" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(2, 61, 137); ">http://hopechest.org</a><a href="http://hopechest.org/" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(2, 61, 137); "></a>.<br /><br /><b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Re-Post this Entire Article on Your Blog<br /></b>Feel free to copy and paste the whole article on to your blog for your reading audience.<br /><br /><b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Get the Blog Badge / Donate Button<br /></b>Use this button anywhere you can post HTML. It will direct the visitor to our PayPal donation page.<br /><form method="post" action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" contenteditable="false" style="text-align: auto;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></span></form><b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Post this Article to Facebook<br /></b>Use the Facebook like button to share this post on your Facebook Page with a comment.</div><br /><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; ">You in????</span></div>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-47916837799335207002010-07-21T00:22:00.001-04:002010-07-21T00:22:36.106-04:00I am - Will you? iFast email written by Vince Giordano<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; ">Those of us who spend our time focusing on the poor, the oppressed and those who serve them are sometimes confronted with grim realities. <div><br /></div><div>The fact is that there are too many problems out there...there are too many children that need help...there are too many women and children who are stuck in sex-trafficking and too many people starving. So, you read a book or you adopted a child or you went on a trip and you were overwhelmed with poverty and injustice. You never imagined that things were so bad. You couldn't believe how cheap it was to solve individual problems - medicines for less than $10, mosquito nets for $5, school fee that are less than your monthly starbucks budget. You thought to yourself - I have to do something - I am GOING to do something.</div><div><br /></div><div>You return to America or you finish your book and your mission begins. You start telling your spouse or your best friends. This is unbelievable - we have to do something now. We have to act. Some of them seem interested but most of them try to wait it out hoping you will get over this latest obsession. But you know in your heart this is not an obsession - it's a calling. It is a new awareness that the kingdom of God has to extend out from you and reach the least of these. You keep going. </div><div><br /></div><div>Your friends initially tolerate you and then some just quietly phase you out but you are undeterred initially. You press on KNOWING people will want to make a difference. You start reading the bible with fresh eyes and asking yourself why you had never seen that or read that before? Why did I not hear this in church? You listen to sermons with fresh ears and you hear the repetitive beating of a drum that seems to resound with a self-centered rhythm. It isn't supposed to be all about me is it God? Why are we only focused on making our great lives even better when kids are starving, when young children are being prepared for sexual exploitation every two minutes? I guess that will all just go away if I can truly develop the purpose driven life right? Or if I just keeping doing more bible studies with my accountability group?</div><div><br /></div><div>For some of us, the hard reality is that we simply need to move on from some of our old ways and old friends into the fullness of the gospel. The true religion that we know He is calling us too. You won't be popular but quite frankly neither was Jesus among the religious crown. You may find yourself test the patience of some of your closest friends who would just rather plan their next big vacation and not hear about the sexual exploitation of children or starving kids or children who are alone and with love or hope. That stuff is just too hard and depressing and doesn't fit with the trajectory of my life that God is making so pleasant and easy.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that everything we do will have an eternal impact in the lives of individuals and it matters. Your small choices can make a big difference in the lives of the hurting. The bad news is that you will not be popular, it will not be easy, you will lose friends, people will tire of you constantly beating the drum for the cause of justice. People will avoid you and criticize you and tell you to lighten up. But, I want to challenge you. I want to challenge you to be a louder voice than you have ever been. I want to challenge you to scream for those who have no voice. I want to challenge you to ask God to use you in places and in ways that others don't want to. I want to challenge you to fight agains the apathy that plagues our churches and society. I challenge you to be His hands and feet to the least of these. I challenge you to allow your life to be a seed - which falls to ground and dies and in so doing it produces much fruit. I challenge you to swim against the current of our church culture that seeks to find comfort in a personal gospel and personal salvation and passionately pursue God with a reckless abandon for those that are helpless.</div><div><br /></div><div>I pray that we would fast today with the spirit of a warrior that has counted the cost and said with boldness - Lord I give you my life today - ALL of me - spend me extravagantly on the poor and the oppressed.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Needs:</div><div><br /></div><div>HopeChest <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: 13px; ">Pray for Indian Rescue Mission and the fundraiser Tom is starting on his blog tomorrow morning for them. We will be raising $8k for an upcoming rescue. The rescue is for a brothel owned and operated by the head of a women's organization. There are at least 5 minors being held there. This brothel "specializes" in selling young virgins to politicians, VIPs and Policeofficers. She also has a book of photos of the girls in the local boarding school and runs a prostitution ring using those girls. </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; font-size: 13px; ">Please pray that the money will be raised to rescue these girls as well as to provide a social worker to meet with them each week and work to provide their healing over the next year.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; font-size: 13px; ">We also have a trip going to Haiti in August and several of our leadership will be traveling over the next several weeks.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; font-size: 13px; ">Please pray for the following organizations:</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; font-size: 13px; ">The River in Kalamazoo is sending a team into Uganda for a month</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; font-size: 13px; ">Pete and Andrea Kidd's court date</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; font-size: 13px; ">Remember the Poor</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; font-size: 13px; ">Lemonade International</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; font-size: 13px; ">HELP</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; font-size: 13px; ">Indian Rescue Mission</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><div>Vince Giordano</div></span></div></span>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-61255020824588130982010-07-20T21:11:00.003-04:002010-07-20T21:32:28.612-04:00Girls Night Out<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVyOzk1KZdrIMlyUZREdeCIr9yDpaGjuEYacSzDWWkzotJ7ptLVPhOHMrXKcdLT4eTXR6FuCz-bIJLubjH8pQOjTzjT16zHDq4cOaoY13kmODvo01CLYA9ROdUyOvVAKTaPLiugdwR9I/s1600/IMG_3684.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVyOzk1KZdrIMlyUZREdeCIr9yDpaGjuEYacSzDWWkzotJ7ptLVPhOHMrXKcdLT4eTXR6FuCz-bIJLubjH8pQOjTzjT16zHDq4cOaoY13kmODvo01CLYA9ROdUyOvVAKTaPLiugdwR9I/s320/IMG_3684.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496164491970920546" /></a><br />I've updated you a lot about all our sweet new children friends...but I haven't talked a lot about my new girlfriends. Last week I got to spend a good bit of time with my new girls :-)<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://henrylegacy.com">Wendi</a> (moved here in January), <a href="http://lovingtheleast.blogspot.com/">Amy</a> (moving here very soon!) and <a href="http://jodyrlanders.com">Jody</a> (moved here last week). </div><div>What a fun time to just be. These girls know and live my motto "go deep or go home" :-)</div><div><br /></div><div>I just about died laughing when we were shopping in this little store in downtown Monument and Wendi picked up a shawl to see that it said "made in China" and commented "probably by slave children" and roller her eyes. I just started giggling and couldn't stop. I told her we were some of the only girls who would ever celebrate that as an appropriate comment on a girls night out! It was a great night of laughing, talking and raging about injustice :-) Yes, my favorite kind of night!</div>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-51276953139715900832010-07-15T18:36:00.003-04:002010-07-15T18:50:15.115-04:00The thin line between faith and doubtYesterday was a tough day....truly, a deep and dark day. We wrestled. We battled. We approached the throne feeling battle worn, bloodied and bruised. And in as far as we can see - this battle was lost. We prayed for the rescue of 2 specific girls (ages 14-15) from a brothel and begging for the 6 others we knew of....and yet, there was a tip off. No rescue. I literally laid my head on my desk and wept. I felt the oppression, frustration, enormity of this broken world all over again. I felt hopeless - or maybe felt their hopelessness. I was truthfully mad at God...You say you are the rescuer of the oppressed ----so RESCUE!!! <div><br /></div><div>There is a whole other post in this journey - a raw post about what it has done to me to walk the halls of injustice. It's shaken my faith and brought me to new depths of intimacy. A friend recently said that through the past year - she is at a point of more reckless faith than ever before. More depth of intimacy. More of Jesus plain and simple - and yet - it's also the point of greatest doubt. The greatest test of her faith. I thought it was such an amazing point. Kind of like the thin line between love and hate....the thin line between faith and doubt. So often we are afraid to tread into these dark places b/c the faith of our childhood can't handle it. So, instead of walking with fear, trembling, tears and lots of wrestling - we hide. Because when you walk out far enough - when you tread into places where great, great faith is required it makes you stop and think - is this real? Because there is no safety net here. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the midst of this dark day - my friend <a href="http://henrylegacy.com">Wendi</a> posted this - I thought it was worth simply reposting for you to read all of it.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.1em; "><a href="http://wideopenair.blogspot.com/2010/07/my-heart-is-full.html" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; ">my heart is full</a></h3><div class="post-header" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; "><div class="post-header-line-1" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; "></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; "><p>…but I’m not sure what it’s full of today…madness, confusion, frustration, anger, skepticism, expectation, hope, faith….</p><p>There is so much pain, so much injustice, so much persecution and oppression, not just today, but everyday…and we’re left in a difficult place – the tension between these two worlds: good and evil.</p><p><strong>Ecclesiastes 7: 7</strong> Surely oppression drives the wise into madness,<br />and a bribe corrupts the heart.</p><p>I am reminded like it says in <strong>Proverbs 13: 23</strong> “The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice.”</p><p>and we ask you Lord, to intervene – to keep the ground fallow and to produce fruit for your glory – keep injustice at bay.</p><p>When I think about verses like <strong>1 Timothy 6:10 </strong>“<strong> </strong>For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.” I think, how true that is in the world of trafficking humans – where even children are bought and sold for someone to stuff their pockets with evil gain.</p><p>And I read, <strong>Proverbs 16: 8</strong> “Better is a little with righteousness<br />than great revenues with injustice.” God, I want them to know this!!! Show this to those who make money by oppressing others.</p><p>I recently attended an SCTNow (Stop Child Trafficking Now) event…</p><blockquote style="margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 20px; "><p style="margin-top: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; "><em>as a side note, I love this organization because their premise is that “until we look for the people doing wrong, we aren’t going to stop this train,” because a victim rescued can be replaced within a few hours….so with their military, law enforcement, CIA, and special ops backgrounds, they hunt down the perpetrators.</em></p></blockquote><p>…at this event, I learned things like:</p><ul><li>the second largest enterprise in the US next to drugs but quickly approaching equal is human trafficking</li><li>that the US spends more in 1 day on the war against drugs than they do in an entire year of spending to fight trafficking</li><li>that the street value of a woman or child’s life in places like Nicaragua or El Salvador is between $5 and $10 US. And that value increases with each border they cross until they are worth between $8,000 to $10,000 by the time they cross our US border (yeah, “the land of the free, home of the brave” border). these lives are reusable resources that can be sold over and over again.</li></ul><p>sheer evil…and I’m left saying what? doing what? When God doesn’t make sense, I have to cling to what I have and know of Him:</p><blockquote style="margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 20px; "><p style="margin-top: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong>Job 5: 15</strong> But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth and from the hand of the mighty.<br />16 So the poor have hope,<br />and injustice shuts her mouth.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong>Psalm 94: 16</strong> Who rises up for me against the wicked?<br />Who stands up for me against evildoers?<br />17 If the Lord had not been my help,<br />my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.<br />18 When I thought, “My foot slips,”<br />your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.<br />19 When the cares of my heart are many,<br />your consolations cheer my soul.<br />20 Can wicked rulers be allied with you,<br />those who frame injustice by statute?<br />21 They band together against the life of the righteous<br />and condemn the innocent to death.<br />22 But the Lord has become my stronghold,<br />and my God the rock of my refuge.<br />23 He will bring back on them their iniquity<br />and wipe them out for their wickedness;<br />the Lord our God will wipe them out.</p></blockquote><p>And I think, maybe instead of praying for you to feed and save and rescue, I should be asking for your justice to fall on those who are mongering injustice and oppression. Maybe, like David and others in the Bible who cried for you to strike down their enemies, that I need to ask the same. God, I want these evildoers to know you and for you to be glorified in their lives. I want them to know the truth that “better is a little with righteousness…" (Proverbs 16:8) and to act accordingly. But honestly, God, if they will not yield their heart to yours…If they will not acknowledge you and turn, then I pray that you would wipe them out. I claim your promises in verses like theses where they reap calamity, and woes and are found out.</p><blockquote style="margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 20px; "><p style="margin-top: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong>Proverbs 22:8</strong> Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,<br />and the rod of his fury will fail.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong>Jeremiah 22:</strong>(the whole chapter is good) 13 “Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness,<br />and his upper rooms by injustice,<br />who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing<br />and does not give him his wages,</p><p style="margin-top: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong>Proverbs 10: 9</strong> Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,<br />but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.</p></blockquote><p>And then, I rest in the comfort that You are God and I am not and that it does not depend on me. You are changing me through these pangs and showing your power that YOUR NAME (not mine) will be proclaimed and made great.</p><p><strong>Romans 9: 14</strong> What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.</p><p><strong>Ephesians 6:12</strong> For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.</p><p>You are warring in the heavenly places constantly on our behalf. Help me not to get wrapped up in all the things I do not see happening and complain, which I really wanted to do today when two girls were not rescued from their brothel due to a tip-off…grrr…</p><p>And thank you for the girl that was rescued even before she could be sold! Your purpose and plan for her is immeasurable. Let her feel and know you today – Abba.</p><p>And help me to hold fast to your word of life….</p><p><strong>Philippians 2:14</strong> Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.</p></div></span></div>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-80701432407078536092010-07-14T02:31:00.001-04:002010-07-14T02:31:58.516-04:00iFast Requests<div><br /></div><div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 10pt; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; color: black; "><div style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; "><div style="font-family: times, serif; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; "><div style="font-family: times, serif; "><div style="font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="font-family: times, serif; "><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Remember the Poor:</span></b></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">John 14:13-14 <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">"</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. <span class="woj"> If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." I am continuing to ask for the $326,000 necessary to care for the 1500 children in Gulu, Uganda--the school, the clothes, the borehole, the food, the medicine. I know He loves them more than I do. And I know He has opened my eyes to their plight. So, I am asking in His name.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, 'new york', times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div></span></span></span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">HopeChest:</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; ">Pray for the many upcoming trips! Pray that the Lord will bring exactly who He wants to be involved. Pray that our leadership will have wisdom about where to reach out, who to invite and when and where to plan trips.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Pray for the new country launches and all of the details that go into planning these.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Pray for communities to step forward for the following sites: June Amagara in Uganda, the 5 sites in South Africa, The Friends of the Good Samaritan in India, the 2 safe houses in Moldova and the grad programs in Russia.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Pray for communities that have carepoints where not all of the children are sponsored - pray that a fire will be lit in these churches and they will rise up to meet the needs of their orphanage/carepoint.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><b>Indian Rescue Mission -</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">As I write, they are approaching the police to request a rescue. They have found 8 minor girls (ages 14-15) in brothels throughout the red light district of Pune. The police are considering a rescue for 2 of the girls. Pray for this rescue happening hopefully next few hours. Also pray for mercy and release for the other 6 girls. Pray that the police will shock everyone and desire to rescue all of the girls.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><b>Gold Coast Orphan Alliance</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; ">Gold Coast Orphan Alliance. We are doing a We Heart Orphans party in an outlying town tomorrow night and there will be people there from various churches in that area. Please pray that God will move in the churches represented on behalf of orphans and allow our ministry to expand into that community. Also, there is a possible opportunity for travel to Ghana.. Pray for wisdom and discernment.</span></b></span></span></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; "><blockquote type="cite"><div><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit; "><div><div><blockquote style="border-left-width: 2px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(16, 16, 255); margin-left: 5px; padding-left: 5px; "><div id="yiv69855183"><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, 'new york', times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">J</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">oin us tomorrow morning first thing for a time of corporate prayer. I promise, you'll be blessed! </span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Wednesdays 9:30 AM (eastern) at CALL IN # : </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1276086481_0"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1276656634_0"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1277264649_0"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1279087197_0">760- 569- 9000</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "> ID: 968101</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "> We are also adding a NEW CALL!!! This one will be at 1:30 (eastern) and will focus on prayer for those who are being trafficked into the sex trade. Join us! </span></span></span></span></div></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></blockquote></span></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Thanks!</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Brandi</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "> </span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "></span></span></div></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div></div><div></div></div><br /></div></div><div></div></div><br /></div></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-66533956759489956672010-07-07T00:32:00.000-04:002010-07-07T00:33:12.718-04:00Prayer Requests ~ iFast58<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 10pt; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; color: black; "><div>We got a lot of prayer requests in this week! No need for my words - it's time to get praying, people :-)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; "><div style="font-family: times, serif; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; "><div style="font-family: times, serif; "><div style="font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="font-family: times, serif; "><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Remember the Poor:</span></b></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; ">"We shall not let go of God until He makes this place a place of praise." Those are the words of our partnering pastor in Gulu, Uganda. (paraphrase of Isaiah 62:7) I don't have any new news to report this week, but we are pressing on in prayer, asking the Lord for all that is needed for the people of Kochgoma (Gulu). We think we're asking for $326,000...but He knows the needs better than we do.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, 'new york', times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div></span></span></span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">HopeChest:</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Praise for the India Trip - God did remarkable things in and through this team. Pray for the ministries they encountered on the ground that are doing amazing things with tireless effort. Continue to pray for freedom from oppression and bondage and the chains of injustice that so tightly hold many of these places. Pray for the Spirit's work that was obvious to our team as He pursues the hearts of the people.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Pray for the leadership as decisions are made about partnerships and new county openings</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Pray for churches / communities to step up for communities in Uganda, S. Africa, India and Russia</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Pray for the churches/ communities with low sponsorship - pray that their leaders will once again light a fire in their people to stand up for the fatherless.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">ABBA Fund / Together 4 Adoption Conference</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">From Dan Cruver - head of T4A</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; ">I have this strong inward sense that God is going to awaken people who attend the T4A conference in a significant way. So please pray to that end. That God would awaken his people to care for orphans in a way he has yet to do.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><b>Asha Mission - Delhi, India</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; "><div>prayers</div><div>1. the need for land at asha mission: wisdom in searching out property (especially for Pastor Babu and his wife Lijy), financial provision for it, trust in Gods timing, faith to step out</div><div>2. there are 3 street girls who I (Jessica) am going back to a specific train station in N India to look for with another asha mission leader, amanda (another volunteer). i will have to share more of this story later, but we met these three girls last fall, have been burdened ever since, and are hoping to find them and possibly get them into an asha mission home. the chances are sooo tiny...but possible. and God is a God who saves! so we are resting that case before Him!</div><div>3. for the salvation of all the children at asha mission</div><div>4. for rest, encouragement, and strength in saji and gracie at asha mission delhi. and for sam and his wife (leaders at asha mission kolkata)</div><div>5. for asha mission to be a Light in a dark place</div><div>6. for saji phillip and his wife working in brothel areas</div></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><b>Indian Rescue Mission</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; ">Please pray for Indian Rescue Mission, for the Investigation team as they will be investigating on brothels in Karnataka State. The team is not getting access into the brothel as the manager and the brothel keeper is objecting. Please pray.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><b>Orphan Relief and Rescue</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; "><div>After injuring her foot, Ashley traveled safely home last week -- thanks for your prayers there -- and it's a good thing because it turned out to be broken. Please pray for a speedy recovery so she can return to her kids in Liberia, where she so desperately wants to be.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another of our team, Andrew, is traveling to Canada tomorrow to try and finish the immigration process to the U.S. so he can join the office team in Seattle. An unfortunate and unforeseen expense, but God is already providing! Please pray that the paperwork will soon come to an end!</div><div><br /></div><div>With most of our field team now gone for R&R, please pray for the kids. Pray they don't feel left behind, especially now that school's done and it's pouring rain every day in Liberia. Pray that those at home get the rest they've earned, and those still in Liberia have the strength and grace to carry the extra burden.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Personal - from iFasters</b></div><div>Jason Wert - This is going to sound rather selfish but if you could pray for me as I work on a challenge to go a month never doubting that God is there I'd appreciate it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pray for Ben and Amy Savage who are moving out to Colorado to work for HopeChest - pray that their house will sell!</div><div><br /></div><div>Pray for the many iFasters who are in the process of adoption and waiting that is so hard and painful.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks as always for your protection and provision through prayer.</div></span></span></div></span></span></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; "><blockquote type="cite"><div><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit; "><div><div><blockquote style="border-left-width: 2px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(16, 16, 255); margin-left: 5px; padding-left: 5px; "><div id="yiv69855183"><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, 'new york', times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">J</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">oin us tomorrow morning first thing for a time of corporate prayer. I promise, you'll be blessed! </span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Wednesdays 9:30 AM (eastern) at CALL IN # : </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1276086481_0"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1276656634_0"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1277264649_0">760- 569- 9000</span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "> ID: 968101</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "> We are also adding a NEW CALL!!! This one will be at 1:30 (eastern) and will focus on prayer for those who are being trafficked into the sex trade. Join us! </span></span></span></span></div></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></blockquote></span></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Thanks!</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Brandi</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "> </span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "></span></span></div></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div></div><div></div></div><br /></div></div><div></div></div><br /></div></div><div></div></div></div></div></div>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-63365845046052441642010-07-05T17:22:00.002-04:002010-07-05T17:36:45.344-04:00She ReadsCheck out <a href="http://shereads.org">SheReads.org</a> this month!<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://tomdavis.typepad.com">Tom's</a> new book, <a href="http://sheispriceless.com">Priceless</a>, is the featured book of the month!!! This is a HUGE deal because they primarily feature female authors!!! </div><div><br /></div><div>Have you read it yet? It's amazing. Simply amazing. </div><div><br /></div><div>But not always fun. It's a painful read into an area that I had kept my heart from caring deeply about for so long.</div><div><br /></div><div>As <a href="http://thevoiceofadventure.com">Angel</a> said, it's a book that had to be written and must be read. </div><div><br /></div><div>So with that...I encourage you...read it. Please. Not for me, but for the 27 million people who are enslaved today. Just keeping yourself from an issue isn't ok. </div><div><br /></div><div>Believe me, I tried. I tried b/c I didn't think I could do anything. I'm learning differently. </div><div><br /></div><div>I must open my eyes, then I must take that broken heart to Jesus ---and then, I must wait upon Him to tell me how I might be involved in HIS heart for Justice!</div><div><br /></div><div>If you read it - I'd also encourage you to go to <a href="http://sheispriceless.com">www.sheispriceless.com</a> and download the devotional that goes along with it! (I wrote it!)</div>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-12251048931988272862010-07-04T18:56:00.004-04:002010-07-04T19:09:21.025-04:00You Peeps In?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYtXx0u80X3uAC3uN8gf1r7vT0crw1SVrPV-wFQt7Y5tCe4krAruIp7I6gC2RNqL3sF34io9mrIE24DmTeDFh0YLX1uXyccAClBOaj-ayyDrDNUXZRohtj1RkIBMiDO41ZYYf5do4cqg/s1600/img4.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYtXx0u80X3uAC3uN8gf1r7vT0crw1SVrPV-wFQt7Y5tCe4krAruIp7I6gC2RNqL3sF34io9mrIE24DmTeDFh0YLX1uXyccAClBOaj-ayyDrDNUXZRohtj1RkIBMiDO41ZYYf5do4cqg/s320/img4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490189997122362242" /></a><br />Have you heard? There's a little bit of noise around a certain weekend in October. October 1-2 to be exact. It's KINDA a really big deal and you're pretty much invited. It's <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://togetherforadoption.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">TOGETHER FOR ADOPTION!!!!!!!!!!</span></span></a><div><a href="http://togetherforadoption.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">October 1-2, 2010</span></span></a></div><div><a href="http://togetherforadoption.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Austin, TX</span></span></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It's for everyone who loves orphans basically. :-)</div><div><br /></div><div>Adoptive families, pre-adoptive families, fostering families, church leadership, college kids with a passion for social justice, people who just plain love orphans and the poor. We will get together with AMAZING speakers, dynamic worship (led by the one and only Aaron Ivey), tons of informative breakout sessions, meet ups with your fave bloggers and speakers (ahem, Tom David and well, me among others :-)</div><div><br /></div><div>When it all boils down to it, it'll be a weekend full of crazy people who love Jesus and love orphans where we get to learn, grow and party together. A weekend where people won't look at you like you're crazy for thinking a dossier is the most precious possession and know how hard "the wait" is and actually (gasp) WANT to talk about sex trafficking, clean water, and food for orphans! </div><div><br /></div><div>You just have to be <a href="http://togetherforadoption.com/">there</a>!!! I will be and would LOVE to see you there. You know me, turning any opportunity into a reunion of strangers :-) and a major party!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>So, <a href="http://togetherforadoption.com/">are you in</a>???? Come on, you know you want to! Drive if you have to (I promise, cross country drives aren't THAT bad!)</div><div><br /></div><div>PS They are actually letting me lead a breakout session! I'm pretty sure it'll be about being a warriorgirl and connecting to other warriorgirls! I'm SUPER excited! Tom and Vince from HopeChest will also be speaking and some of our fave bloggers will be there - check out the featured blogger page on the conference site!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(79, 69, 61); line-height: 16px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;"><div class="text-frame" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -51px; padding-top: 12px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; height: 340px; "><div class="textwidget"><h1 class="vevent" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; height: 78px; "> </h1></div></div><br /></span></div></div>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-5049528519254757662010-07-01T21:47:00.004-04:002010-07-01T21:58:02.381-04:00I Hugged a Man in His UnderwearOk - this isn't my typical post but I LOVED this article. It has grieved my spirit for a long time - how the church treats the issue of homosexuality. I vividly remember a conversation with a dear friend who has gay family members. During the conversation she shared how she cringes every time someone at church makes a gay joke or parody. She knows how much it has hurt her cause in trying to demonstrate the Father's love to her family member. We certainly don't treat other sin like this! Ok, I could go on and on. But, the point is - I love this guys heart. It's challenging to me b/c while I've thought "wow, the church in general doesn't do this very well" - I certainly haven't done anything to change it. :-( Read it - let me know your thoughts.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Trebuchet, helvetica, san-Serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><h1 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.8em; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">I Hugged a Man in His Underwear. And I Am Proud.</h1><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">By, <a href="http://naytinalbert.blogspot.com/" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Nathan Albert</a> ( <a href="http://twitter.com/nathanalbert" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">@nathanalbert</a> )</p><div id="attachment_2695" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 244); float: left; width: 129px; text-align: center; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-right-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-left-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><a href="http://www.nicolewick.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/IMG_0996.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><img class="size-full wp-image-2695 " title="IMG_0996" src="http://www.nicolewick.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/IMG_0996.jpg" alt="" width="119" height="178" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a><p class="wp-caption-text" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Photo Credit: Michelle at maladjustedmedia.com</p></div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">I hugged a man in his underwear. I think Jesus would have too.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">I spent the day at Chicago’s Pride Parade. Some friends and I, with The Marin Foundation, wore shirts with “I’m Sorry” written on it. We had signs that said, “I’m sorry that Christians judge you,” “I’m sorry the way churches have treated you,” “I used to be a bible-banging homophobe, sorry.” We wanted to be an alternative Christian voice from the protestors that were there speaking hate into megaphones.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">What I loved most about the day is when people “got it.” I loved watching people’s faces as they saw our shirts, read the signs, and looked back at us. Responses were incredible. Some people blew us kisses, some hugged us, some screamed thank you. A couple ladies walked up and said we were the best thing they had seen all day. I wish I had counted how many people hugged me. One guy in particular softly said, “Well, I forgive you.”</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Watching people recognize our apology brought me to tears many times. It was reconciliation personified.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">My favorite though was a gentleman who was dancing on a float. He was dressed solely in white underwear and had a pack of abs like no one else. As he was dancing on the float, he noticed us and jokingly yelled, “What are you sorry for? It’s pride!” I pointed to our signs and watched him read them.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Then it clicked.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Then he got it.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">He stopped dancing. He looked at all of us standing there. A look of utter seriousness came across his face. And as the float passed us he jumped off of it and ran towards us. In all his sweaty beautiful abs of steal, he hugged me and whispered, “thank you.”</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Before I had even let go, another guy ran up to me, kissed me on the cheek, and gave me the biggest bear hug ever. I almost had the wind knocked out of me; it was one of those hugs.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">This is why I do what I do. This is why I will continue to do what I do. Reconciliation was personified.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">I think a lot of people would stop at the whole “man in his underwear dancing” part. That seems to be the most controversial. It’s what makes the evening news. It’s the stereotype most people have in their minds about Pride.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Sadly, most Christians want to run from such a sight rather than engage it. Most Christian won’t even learn if that person dancing in his underwear has a name. Well, he does. His name is Tristan.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">However, I think Jesus would have hugged him too. It’s exactly what I read throughout scripture: Jesus hanging out with people that religious people would flee from. Correlation between then and now? I think so.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Acceptance is one thing. Reconciliation is another. Sure at Pride, everyone is accepted (except perhaps the protestors). There are churches that say they accept all. There are business that say the accept everyone. But acceptance isn’t enough. Reconciliation is.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">But there isn’t always reconciliation. And when there isn’t reconciliation, there isn’t full acceptance. Reconciliation is more painful; it’s more difficult. Reconciliation forces one to remember the wrongs committed and relive constant pain. Yet it’s more powerful and transformational because two parties that should not be together and have every right to hate one another come together for the good of one another, for forgiveness, reconciliation, unity.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">What I saw and experienced at Pride 2010 was the beginning of reconciliation. It was in the shocked faces of gay men and women who did not ever think Christians would apologize to them.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">What I saw and experienced at Pride 2010 was the personification of reconciliation. It was in the hugs and kisses I received, in the “thank you’s” and waves, in the smiles and kisses blown.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">I hugged a man in his underwear. I hugged him tightly. And I am proud.</p></span></div>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-17468945207516855622010-07-01T21:44:00.003-04:002010-07-01T21:46:50.876-04:00He did it!!!!First of all - I was COMPLETELY remiss in not telling you <div><br /></div><div>HE DID IT!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>28 hours after we put out a call to action - you guys responded and we had MORE than enough to send all 12 kids to school. I am waiting to hear what the extra money will be used for - but I think it will be used for rescues! That or food :-)</div><div><br /></div><div>Love you guys - blown away that He uses us to rescue, redeem and restore that which He adores!</div>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-26268000674091187252010-06-30T11:34:00.004-04:002010-06-30T11:50:58.949-04:00Oh the JOY!<div style="text-align: center;">Oh the joy.....</div><div><br /></div><div>I was on our iFast call this morning with Melanie Dale and we were interceding for these precious Indian children. As I was praying, I was overwhelmed to the point of tears.</div><div><br /></div><div>All I could think of was Sanju</div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 103px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBGG429JEVtSCS6Mq1PTz4NAb06JdPkmvu1ujFizhpPBAnxAblR_1da3YKp7l2K3qW-dt8fR98KbucqEYwVPPHHUWhcoZyzBxQbXRAo326XoEPOH0LqSR6ERBNeIupr3FMRp1qDYQW2I/s400/17352_10100132794790023_5212771_57086813_5178916_s.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488593861145463682" /></div><div>She was born into a brothel. Her life would almost definitely have been a life of chains. With her beauty, I can hardly stomach the thought of how young she would have been forced into a life of sexual slavery. </div><div><br /></div><div>And yet, the Lord plucked her out and is breaking the chains of her injustice. He used Saji Phillip and Saji Abraham and the Asha Home to redeem and restore what was broken. He took what the enemy had planned as a life of horror and is bringing joy and redemption. He broke and is continuing to break what is most likely YEARS and years of oppression.</div><div><br /></div><div>And, in that amazing beauty - He has given US the chance to be a part of her story. US! Can you believe that? </div><div><br /></div><div>That completely overwhelms me. That He would use me to play a small part of the story of loosing the chains of injustice for a little girl who's worth is beyond description to Him.</div><div><br /></div><div>Wow - if you have been a part of this miracle - my prayer is that you would feel the joy. That it wouldn't have been just a check you wrote or a donation you gave - but an encounter with the God of the Universe - joining Him in His mighty work! Stand in awe people!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>If you still haven't given - there is still time! We only need $535 more to send all 12 children to school!!! that's 535 more opportunities for people to be involved in loosing the chains of injustice with children who are worth the world to our Savior. Do you want to be a part of their miracle today?</div><div><form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><input type="hidden" name="hosted_button_id" value="KVD4EUBDKGDKN"><div style="text-align: center;"><input type="image" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donate_LG.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!"></div><img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1" /><br /></form><br /><br /></div>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-72424568329546180032010-06-30T09:40:00.002-04:002010-06-30T09:45:01.980-04:00Ravi<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Meet Ravi - he too wants to go to school!!!<div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 65px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eb3GfmGtcih3y8_6jTaSDuqZWjKLDXAdOc4XqfuzZtFfcEAivuZDibUq4vDjS0cQ6q6Up-bxzjVhM8zapnswgAKR3MM5RoLF5Xp77fA5Op-TNXDR3mXeyktwc4tPp9_lwQD1idXZCm0/s400/17352_10100132794874853_5212771_57086827_6484435_s.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488561642125628498" /></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";color:black;">Ravi’s thick eyelashes and massive dark eyes will capture you at first glance. His moods fluctuate from extremely timid to wildly energetic. He loves to learn and thrives when given one-on-one attention with his schoolwork. Ravi serves as an older brother figure among the children. His little sister, Kushum, loves her big brother and resembles him in her frequent mood changes. Their moodiness, though, just adds to the unique beauty they each possess. Ravi's parents are still Hindu, but he seems to have a firm grasp on Jesus and the Gospel at his young age and has a sincere desire to learn and seek more of Jesus.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";color:black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">$410 will send him to school - but the need is urgent - </span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";color:black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">he needs his school fees in the next 7 hours!</span></b></span></p></div><form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"><div style="text-align: center;"><input type="image" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donate_LG.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1" /></div></form>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-83708927102919064022010-06-30T01:43:00.001-04:002010-06-30T01:43:34.562-04:00Doing Battle ~ iFast58<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; color: black; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">SO often, I get to Tuesday nights and have NO clue what I'm going to write about. I know you guys don't need my thoughts. I know you don't need any words to start your fast. And yet still, I feel compelled to write something....so I guess you are stuck with reading it! Though, feel free to skim down to the bottom and just read the requests.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Whenever I get to the point where I am confused about what to write, I feel the Lord bring me back to one thing - just share what you are learning! So that's what you get :-)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">The past 10 days have been interesting for me. HopeChest has a team in India. As this trip approached, a number of us felt that this trip would need serious prayer covering. We knew that some of our friends (and fellow iFasters) would be going into places of great spiritual darkness and also great physical danger. I soon realized that what the Lord was calling me to was leading the charge for prayer for the team.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">This may seem like no big deal, but while I love praying I had never felt myself to be a prayer warrior or intercessor. This week, I have discovered both the joy and exhaustion of intercessory prayer! As I have prayed for a country that truthfully I never had a great passion for - I have had the Lord open my heart to her and make me fall absolutely in love! But the greatest joy has been the joy of a community coming together to seek the Lord's face on behalf of others. Twice, we have had prayer phone calls lasting an hour and a half. These have been some of the most powerful times of prayer I have ever experienced. Here we were, halfway around the world, and yet still feeling like we were part of this team and their ministry. A group of people realizing that the battle we fight is a spiritual one and choosing to unite across the united states to fight that battle. It was pure joy to stand arm in arm with these warriors and do battle for not only our team but for the entire red light district of Delhi. We truly felt like we were battling for this place and the chains of injustice that bind her. Isaiah 58 came alive in a whole new way as we prayed for the oppressed to be set free.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">And let me tell you, it was amazing. The Lord showed up in a powerful way, both in our lives and on the ground in India. After spending 2 hours in prayer for the team last Saturday while they walked the streets of the Red Light District in Delhi, we later got reports of the EXACT things we were praying for. People approaching them to learn more, our team feeling the very presence of God throughout an evening in a very spiritually dark place, as well as safety for our team among other things. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Through this time, I have learned the absolute JOY of interceding for others. I have understood in a whole new way what it means to have a burden, a people and a country laid on my heart so heavily that I couldn't NOT pray! Don't get me wrong, it's exhausting! (we are ready for the team to get home just so we can all sleep again!) But it's beautiful. Often times we feel the burden of ministry. We either know what we can do and we just get to doing it or we have no clue where or how to start and so we stand there not doing anything...and in the midst, most often we forget to simply PRAY! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">We forget the joy and the privilege it is to participate in a spiritual battle for the people on God's heart. So today, I wonder if we can't return to the whole point of this iFast thing. I wonder if you might call someone (maybe another iFaster) and simply enjoy the community of gathering together in the throne room to do battle for a group of people, most likely somewhere around the world. I wonder if today we might take up our swords and do some serious battle on behalf of others. I don't want to soon forget the experiences of interceding for my friends and for the men, women and children of Delhi. I want it to change me. I want to BE a prayer warrior. I want to be an intercessor. I want to take the people on God's heart that He's laid on mine and I want to spend a good amount of my time talking to HIM about it - instead of just planning what He might want me to do about it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; "><div style="font-family: times, serif; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; "><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; "><div style="font-family: times, serif; "><div style="font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="font-family: times, serif; "><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Remember the Poor:</span></b></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">Remember the Poor: Part of the $351,000 was a 4x4 vehicle for a ministry site in Kisii, Kenya. The pastor was carrying heavy loads of food on his back late at night, back to the orphanage. And when kids got sick, he was hauling them on his back miles to a clinic. This week, God enabled us to send $10,000 to buy a truck. We are ecstatic! That leaves us praying for another $326,000. And we pray on! No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly Psalm 84:11. Praying fervantly that we walk uprightly.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, 'new york', times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div></span></span></span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">HopeChest:</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Pray for the India Trip. They have a few more days of ministry before coming home on Saturday. Pray for the HalogenTV team that is there - that the Lord will guide them on exactly how to use the footage they have taken.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Pray for the many upcoming trips! Pray that the Lord will bring exactly who He wants to be involved. Pray that our leadership will have wisdom about where to reach out, who to invite and when and where to plan trips.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Pray for the new country launches and all of the details that go into planning these.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Pray for communities to step forward for the following sites: June Amagara in Uganda, the 5 sites in South Africa, The Friends of the Good Samaritan in India, the 2 safe houses in Moldova and the grad programs in Russia.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Pray for communities that have carepoints where not all of the children are sponsored - pray that a fire will be lit in these churches and they will rise up to meet the needs of their orphanage/carepoint.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Pray for the fundraising effort to get 12 children from Asha Ministries in India to school. Pray for Amy, Melanie, Sarah, Lindsey, Angel and Brandi who are leading the effort. Totals now show that $3500 had been raised for sure and the total needed is $4884 by the end of today - an iFast miracle is in order :-)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">ABBA Fund / Together 4 Adoption Conference</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Early bird registration ends today for T4A</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Pray for people across the country, that God will bring the people who need to be there!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Pray for Dan and Jason as they put many hours into planning</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Pray for the logistics coming together</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><b>Orphan Relief and Rescue</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">They didn't actually send requests - but I know of one :-)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Ashley, who serves in Liberia with incredible passion came down with Malaria. In her stupor from Malaria, she fell and broke her foot. She is now having to go back to the states prematurely. Pray for Ashley's heart. She aches to have to leave Liberia and the children and team that she loves. Pray also for the team and the hole that Ashley leaves behind.</span></div></span></span></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; "><blockquote type="cite"><div><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit; "><div><div><blockquote style="border-left-width: 2px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(16, 16, 255); margin-left: 5px; padding-left: 5px; "><div id="yiv69855183"><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, 'new york', times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">J</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">oin us tomorrow morning first thing for a time of corporate prayer. I promise, you'll be blessed! </span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Wednesdays 9:30 AM (eastern) at CALL IN # : </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1276051168_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1276086481_0"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1276656634_0"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1277264649_0">760- 569- 9000</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "> ID: 968101</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "> We are also adding a NEW CALL!!! This one will be at 1:30 (eastern) and will focus on prayer for those who are being trafficked into the sex trade. Join us! </span></span></span></span></div></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></blockquote></span></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Thanks!</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Brandi</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "> </span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "></span></span></div></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div></div><div></div></div><br /></div></div><div></div></div></div></div></div>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-32103143275873380582010-06-29T16:28:00.005-04:002010-06-29T16:43:41.098-04:00Meet Vishal and Rakeesh<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>As you may have read <a href="http://www.brandilea.com/2010/06/gotta-be-done-by-thursday.html">here</a>, <a href="http://wakinggiants.com">here</a>, <a href="http://lovingtheleastofthese.blogspot.com">here</a>, <a href="http://thevoiceofadventure.com">here</a> or <a href="http://africaboundandrews.blogspot.com">here</a> or even <a href="http://threetimeslife.blogspot.com">here</a> (PS read all of them! These girls are amazing, especially when sharing their hearts for the least of these!) We are on a mission! (scary, huh?!) Our mission is to ask others to join us in raising enough money to send 12 kids to school at the Asha Mission in Delhi, India!<div><br /></div><div>As of right now - we have $2480 raised! That's over half of the $4884 needed! ($407 per child times 12 children)</div><div><br /></div><div>I wanted to introduce you to a few of these precious ones!</div><div><br /></div><div>This is Vishal, He is 6 years old.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 97px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtRmudtbPogjZUD2ZCsAZCL9IAkqL53KrVuXnI6ThxkqfNAB-M1KxKFu8o1w5jG-e7vdNyLWNPZwxnwxo77Rnunx8geJBi5cJ-DJNLahpCHx1JOxHNTvaVipCzmIJB7PTmXC7Ka5D8zI/s400/17352_10100132794879843_5212771_57086828_5393823_s.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488296380568618338" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';">Known to break into spontaneous dance moves when least expected, this little one goes to the beat of his own drum. His big, black eyes quickly reveal what his mind is thinking and his heart is feeling, and he shows unusual empathy when other children are hurting or upset. Vishal was born into a brothel in Delhi. While his mother hoped to remove Vishal from those surroundings, she continues to live there and occasionally visits Vishal.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';">This is Rakesh. He is 9 years old.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8lE3I8HvokO31O3MDuLSKqqvTRwfeHloEMcMlVtLv9-o3BUGNn-xcB7GuHBMxHmW5sIocd-z445f2FsutrUigaYRF_78Mr_zPlrTnwy3L9jaOOuLGZ-MHz3KxbZGw3a2Z1lzdJHHJ0E/s400/17352_10100132794869863_5212771_57086826_7473259_s.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488296878528093778" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 61px; height: 130px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"> <!--StartFragment--> <p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";color:black;">Rakesh is a little man with a quiet sense of leadership. The older brother of Vinod and Primlal, he came from a household of alcohol abuse and domestic violence. Rakesh spent most of his time at home doing manual labor to maintain the household and occasionally attended government school. He loves to laugh and can be found telling and playing jokes with his friends and Meena, the cook. He is quite methodical with his schoolwork, can always be found helping with chores, and is one of the best chapati makers at Asha Mission. He seems to truly understand the Gospel and what it means to walk as a Christian. He is often found praying on his knees with his whole heart.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";color:black;"><b>You can help!!!</b></span></p></span></span></div><form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"><div style="text-align: center;"><input type="image" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donate_LG.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!"></div><img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1" /><br /></form>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-91742713921840335822010-06-29T12:24:00.001-04:002010-06-29T12:25:13.506-04:00Making Giving Easier :-)You can also use this paypal button to give!!! Make a difference in the lives of these kiddos!!!<br /><br /><form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"><br /><input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_s-xclick"><br /><input type="hidden" name="hosted_button_id" value="KVD4EUBDKGDKN"><br /><input type="image" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donate_LG.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!"><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1"><br /></form>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-50493725764245352192010-06-29T04:00:00.002-04:002010-06-29T12:24:25.409-04:00Gotta be done by Thursday!<div style="text-align: center;">It's true what they say, you can't meet every need.</div><div><br /></div><div>But we've seen that when it becomes personal - when we see their faces and know their stories....all of a sudden, we CAN meet the needs! (or at least do our part!)</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I want to introduce you to a few precious children.</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 103px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMz6TWB8Zm-9TnzMq2ZAC0MU9jvfPnqBl5Fi4vCo1UZX4sPaiA7ryNU9jKgi6sd1eZHht-0yxPA1VPqSGztyxkSfN1h_h2qLrtKvXjpMB4JMXuBCmGDgqycxvzU-MTZz6KWcGvWWc1e8/s200/17352_10100132794790023_5212771_57086813_5178916_s.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488065423317719602" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 97px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHh9bk69uYynBDFZA73xijwNwQTnkrgUQrUY-ZC8J7crT8QvHuILo-YR7G98wtmd6jgjrf4SYefzKulo_220eSQ7FACCbBSh5tTEgl4ESG9wlZeGaGq1p1FDhCDaBLvBsU1QlZXMvZMS4/s200/17352_10100132794804993_5212771_57086815_515386_s.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488065426677659666" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 97px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpX3Sk30_e3_b1kDBKAFnFxWXTgEXhyu59wOXAGDnmJyRw1jecp7aHmhaMG-kreZnwpjf8ljJgwHX9q43UUCpsqgIEBwVF8_drzlSCaZosUU1HFoynli6BXCd7tl2QT4_irO4j87n-OL0/s200/17352_10100132794824953_5212771_57086818_5127477_s.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488065429279711042" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 65px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5rW7KXSYd52qrju2LZoEikSVLfEyYWf316IOOLHszCCrHSNOmUAgxievi7TiWxitjd7HPK-65b-0yS1mJHyCfnE4iQmUh2_Oy0rSxkFTx63OS5gx_ILhhjI62dz7FNOOY2E993Qa5_c/s200/17352_10100132794874853_5212771_57086827_6484435_s.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488065436261444034" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJNhZRvV0cgBZptWCumb4t6m3axYA29Wxa2SYEs67BjUK93fhdhGsR7YoONjTfVWZyYOIKShtElqT53HC_bbNkt_cWAR9SIToaIj0MHqHpkV_4asRoOvp9Cs3ybCBaNW6tFuK8yp2GbU/s1600/17352_10100132794839923_5212771_57086820_500741_s.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJNhZRvV0cgBZptWCumb4t6m3axYA29Wxa2SYEs67BjUK93fhdhGsR7YoONjTfVWZyYOIKShtElqT53HC_bbNkt_cWAR9SIToaIj0MHqHpkV_4asRoOvp9Cs3ybCBaNW6tFuK8yp2GbU/s320/17352_10100132794839923_5212771_57086820_500741_s.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488068987247797042" style="cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 130px; " /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLqC3K7DPEIf0ZknWx8YNXQlv0nkUJkmQRfXTwyHc9Z0mLr850AMp_s_WyC4dDCSQahJ6E7kfoA_KnO9nN-oNhSvOXdJqvejgpMwqWPIyO5-8ryPGyReH7Bck1D1bKETBmeufk01BRCA/s1600/17352_10100132794869863_5212771_57086826_7473259_s.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLqC3K7DPEIf0ZknWx8YNXQlv0nkUJkmQRfXTwyHc9Z0mLr850AMp_s_WyC4dDCSQahJ6E7kfoA_KnO9nN-oNhSvOXdJqvejgpMwqWPIyO5-8ryPGyReH7Bck1D1bKETBmeufk01BRCA/s320/17352_10100132794869863_5212771_57086826_7473259_s.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488068991564593058" style="cursor: pointer; width: 61px; height: 130px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Aren't they PRECIOUS?? </div><div><br /></div><div>Let me just tell you about one - here is how Sanju is described (she is on the far left)</div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";color:black;">"Sanjna goes by Sanju and is the younger sister of Vickey. Known by many as the “resident Picasso,” her unique artistic style is evident in her drawings and clothing combinations. She loves her older brother, as shown by her tears when he is hurting and her love for having him by her side. Sanju has delicate featur</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';">es</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';">, and her eyes reveal a beautiful and free spirit, perhaps trying to forget early memories of life in a brothel. Her mother occasionally visits, but it seems to be difficult and cause confusion to little Sanju as she tries to balance the love and desire for her mother with the innocent joy of being a child."</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br /></div><div>Many of you have been following the <a href="http://hopechestindia.blogspot.com/">HopeChest trip to India</a> that my friends are on. Their stories have been heartbreaking and inspiring all at the same time. I have been completely blessed to lead the prayer movement for this trip (a WHOLE other post about what He is</div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 58px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueW-_EbhEWKAhLVuDzGGyA0lP5OheVCut2VffWDPCMlrsFhmTnrt-1Thunlhw9gi185LRCQyJ5tPPyj2B4le2IMSouAgN745tqPA0YZHE0YmZcgZfP4BipCv_cjDOnomhVQeKWFEBK90/s200/17352_10100132794909783_5212771_57086831_4554438_s.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488066676678259186" /><div> teaching me!). Through their words and pictures, I have fallen in love with a whole new country! I'm sure you have too.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I've heard the heart wrenching stories of the chains of injustice that bind so many, I've simply wanted to DO SOMETHING!</div><div><br /></div><div>HopeChest is actively looking for communities that want to partner with either individual classes or whole grades at the Friends of the Good Samaritan School. (contact me if you want to get involved in this way!)</div><div><br /></div><div>They are also looking at partnering with the most amazing place. It's called Asha Ministries. It was started by Pastor Babu who now lives in Ft. Meyers and serves as a pastor. His wife is a nurse </div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HPcvif2QnCgqP-iMnMk5U7h9cZ6aH_NDgjE4jsG4YoIjEr228TC8VU7Q6uF9Jb2m9m4NLlh_bruLCOYjCSh1twU0uVIs6RzMmt5siJCoJ-Gr52EYZqOkjVgamlRdQdX8jtfzoz3eq4I/s200/17352_10100132794959683_5212771_57086837_7699144_s.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488066917905962642" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 97px; height: 130px; " /><div>and they live on her salary and then send most of it back to India to care for the sweetest of children. They have started, with Saji Abraham and his wife Grace, a home for 28 children. Most of these children come from a very rural part of India that is extremely poor. Others of the children come from the brothels. Their mothers work in the brothels and until they came to</div><div>live at Asha Ministries, they too lived in the brothel. Their mothers approach Saji Abraham as well Saji Phillip (who runs a ministry in the brothels) and ask that they take their children and please give them a better life.</div><div><br /></div><div>Asha has provided a home and Saji Abraham and Grace provide the sweet love of a Mama and Papa. These children have endured so much just getting to this point, that the love and care of Saji Abraham and Grace is a healing love that reveals the Father's heart. </div><div><br /></div><div>The team that visited, and saw Saji Abraham and Saji Phillip in action were blown away. They</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbuFr-CbosUu5zHNsnQLgTzLKr3a6hy9er9mSGYP5jYuj3uoVEpnJK8ZbW4rhCl1ZP57u_K7PSS0Me1NwJzXCBQ7nfU-ZJiWkJukt3bsEw4apc1fs8iwMSUm0a1FM1QN1kkif_4hCEEE/s200/17352_10100132794904793_5212771_57086830_2757357_s.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488067116625455522" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 97px; height: 130px; " /></span><div> watched them minister both in the brothels and in the orphanage and truly saw Jesus in action.</div><div><br /></div><div>They immediately wanted to get involved, so when they heard that these children had an urgent need - they jumped on the opportunity and called us!</div><div><br /></div><div>So, here it is - 12 children in their care need to start school on Thursday. THIS THURSDAY! But they don't have the school fees. Will you help????</div><div><br /></div><div>School is $407 per child (includes tuition, uniform and supplies) x 12 kids = $4884 </div><div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">Click </span><a href="https://secure.pursuantgroup.net/pursuant4/hopechest/chcselect/donation.asp"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">HERE </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">to give</span></div><div style="text-align: center; ">(please put "india school" in the notes section)</div></div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div>We can do that, right? If enough of us post on this, if enough of us give, then $4884 in 2 days is NOTHING!!! </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhba6SIxgEi6T92VE5-wOPsS7tFxlXsuLpczbPKXEmcXAe1_0rACtMAzpG0JecWxvkU7RCZmV081BKGJLnkJZIeJhV8UGwHi3-sXjSGZ1mLYXqVt1Ms0vwMcz_KokTL_EyZU6nxNN9aHOE/s320/17352_10100132794879843_5212771_57086828_5393823_s.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488067535396884210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 97px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>As soon as I heard about the need, my thoughts went back to Uganda. To meeting the sweetest woman who was caring for HIV+ children - when we asked her if she had financial need her response was "No, and it is amazing. The Lord knows that I could not bear up under that. The work itself is such a burden"</div><div><br /></div><div>What a joy it is to take just one simple burden off of the backs of these amazing people who do ministry that most of us can't (or won't) do. I can only imagine the burden of working day after day in the red light district of Delhi, a city that is 2.5% Christian. It is the least I can do to support these amazing men and women and the precious children that they serve by giving up some of bounty that I experience.</div><div><br /></div><div>Will you join me? Any size gift helps. Will you choose to ditch your Chick Fil A, your starbucks or even your brand new iPhone so that these children can go to school? Will you go a step further and help us spread the word? The need is here, it is urgent and we CAN do something!<br /><form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"><br /><input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_s-xclick"><br /><input type="hidden" name="hosted_button_id" value="KVD4EUBDKGDKN"><br /><input type="image" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donate_LG.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!"><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1"><br /></form> </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">Click </span><a href="https://secure.pursuantgroup.net/pursuant4/hopechest/chcselect/donation.asp"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">HERE </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">to give</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;">(please put "india school" in the notes section)</div><div>**I will try to get a paypal link up asap as I know that's easier!</div><div><br /></div>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3064414387825192856.post-91259805517042138592010-06-25T17:45:00.002-04:002010-06-25T17:47:29.577-04:00Beautiful SlavePlease go read my friends' blogs at www.HopechestIndia.blogspot.com please. They need us to rise up and pray for them. This is serious warfare. Please leave me a comment if you'll be praying. They are entering brothels again tomorrow night. Pray please.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7jYU9meVXKg&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7jYU9meVXKg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Brandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01080173627359254887noreply@blogger.com3